Women produce testosterone in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone in women drives libido, bone mineral density, muscle mass and strength, mood stability, and cognitive function. It begins declining in the mid-to-late thirties, well before oestrogen and progesterone, and reaches its lowest levels in the post-menopause. UK menopause guidelines (NICE NG23, updated 2023) now include testosterone replacement as a recommended option for women with low libido.
Testosterone is not a male hormone. It is a human hormone. In women, its decline drives changes that medicine has for decades misattributed to stress, ageing, or psychological causes.
Supporting Testosterone Naturally
- Resistance training — the most potent lifestyle stimulator of testosterone in both sexes
- Adequate sleep — testosterone is synthesised during sleep; chronic restriction drives levels down
- Zinc from dietary sources (pumpkin seeds, red meat, shellfish)
- Managing cortisol — chronic stress drives conversion of testosterone precursors to cortisol
- Consulting a menopause specialist for testing and potential HRT including testosterone
testosteronewomen's healthhormonesmenopausebone densitylibidomuscle mass